VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Odelion Orchestra, an enchanting music ensemble from the Netherlands, is set to captivate audiences across Indonesia with their unique and eclectic blend of dark pop, folk, classical music, and jazz, the cultural center of the Netherlands, Erasmus Huis announced on Wednesday.

The orchestra will embark on a series of concerts in Salatiga, Bandung, and Jakarta, offering a mesmerizing musical experience to music enthusiasts in the country.

Odelion Orchestra, led by Margriet Sjoerdsma, gained inspiration for Odelion, during a three-week journey through Norway, where she crafted new songs that delve into personal yet universally relatable themes.

Odelion remarkable album, "Northern Lights," released in 2021, was honored with the prestigious Edison, a distinguished jazz award in the Netherlands.

Sjoerdsma expressed her excitement about the upcoming concerts.

“We are looking so much forward to coming to Indonesia, hopefully meeting new people and musicians, playing our music and dive into the Indonesian culture!”

The Director of Erasmus Huis, Yolande Melsert said she was happy and proud to be able to present Odelion Orchestra on stage in three cities in Indonesia. This collaboration aims to strengthen cultural ties between the Netherlands and Indonesia also create memorable experiences for the music lovers.

“The Odelion Orchestra was already supposed to perform in Erasmus Huis 2 years ago. But then Covid hit us all and we all had to stay at home. Odelion did manage though to produce a special online Erasmus Huis - concert, which was broadcasted on our YouTube channel (((e-rasmushuis))) and was a remarkable success - and still can be enjoyed online. But live is always better!

We are so thrilled that the orchestra is finally to be seen live in Indonesia and that the eight musicians can meet the audience and connect to Indonesian colleagues!” said Yolande Melsert. The Odelion concerts will take place in Salatiga, Bandung, and Jakarta, allowing audiences in different regions to experience the orchestra's distinctive musical fusion.

All events will be open to the public, free of charge, and will operate on a first-come, first-served basis. This ensures that music enthusiasts have the opportunity to witness the spellbinding performance of Odelion Orchestra. (VOI)

VOINews, Jakarta - National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT) Head Police Commissioner General Rycko Amelza Dahniel reemphasized Indonesia's staunch commitment to fighting terrorism while attending the 3rd United Nations' Counter-Terrorism (UN CT) Week on Monday (June 19).

"Indonesia is committed to continuing its fight against terrorism by strengthening global cooperation and undertaking various domestic terrorism prevention and management measures," Dahniel noted in his statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The BNPT head also affirmed that Indonesia will prioritize the values of humanity and maintain the spirit of collaboration with related stakeholders, including the government, civil society, private sectors, academics, and media, in the efforts to fight terrorism.

Dahniel made the statement on the occasion of the UN CT Week that adopted the theme of “Addressing Terrorism through Reinvigorated Multilateralism and Institutional Cooperation” being held in New York, the United States, on June 19-23, 2023.

In his speech, Dahniel stated that the agency opted for a soft approach in its efforts to conduct deradicalization.

One of the concrete practices of the approach is by providing the children of the agency's partners with schools with moderate outlook in the hopes of realizing a peaceful and harmonious life that will, in turn, help the nation to break the ideological roots of radicalism, he affirmed.

Dahniel deemed it necessary to strive to divert the violent mindset and culture of terror perpetrators and their families by implementing entrepreneurial programs, with the objective of elevating their welfare after the conclusion of their punishment sentence.

On the sidelines of the conference, the agency head was honored to join the unprecedented wreaths-placing activity at the United Nations' headquarters in honor of the victims and survivors of terrorism.

During his working visit to New York, Dahniel was accompanied by the agency's Director of Regional and Multilateral Cooperation M. Zaim A. Nasution, and Indonesia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Hari Prabowo. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology stated that Indonesia has extensive cultural cooperation with ASEAN countries, including in the exchange of data and artworks.

The ministry's Director General of Culture, Hilmar Farid, stated that data exchange with ASEAN countries would allow each member to identify and compare cultural heritages in the region.

"Within the ASEAN framework, there is data about heritage. The cultural heritage data from all ASEAN members are unified to allow us to see any similarities and differences," Farid stated here on Tuesday.

He noted that apart from data exchange, other forms of cultural cooperation among ASEAN countries include artwork exchange and capacity and technological development collaboration.

"So far, with Singapore, we are mostly (engaging) in bilateral cooperation, but we also conduct exchange when they borrow our National Gallery artwork. Meanwhile, we have also engaged in capacity development (cooperation) with the Philippines," he expounded.

Earlier, the director general received Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the National Museum here. The royal couple was keen to gain a broad understanding of Indonesian culture.

"The emperor's visit is a special occasion for us, and it shows that the visit is not merely about the economy or geopolitical cooperation in the region but is also about the culture," Farid stated.

He highlighted that Indonesia has engaged in cultural cooperation with Japan, including through the use of technology to compile cultural data.

"The project is, more or less, to gather all data about cultural heritages," the director general noted.

During the visit to the National Museum, the emperor expressed interest in the history of Indonesia's water irrigation system depicted in the Tugu, Harinjing, and Palepangan inscriptions, all being the museum's collections. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia's government supports adoption of the Agreement on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) that will accelerate marine environment conservation and restoration of the sea for the future of mankind.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, as director of the Indonesian delegation in negotiating the BBNJ agreement, welcomed the adoption of the BBNJ agreement text as an international legal instrument.

"Indonesia's (National Team) has played an active and strategic role in the negotiations, but it is more important to use this instrument (the BBNJ agreement) for the benefit of Indonesia," Pandjaitan noted in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Biotechnology will be a driving force for the medical industry and strategic technology in the future. Indonesia must not be left behind. "We must 'take action' now," he said.

The Indonesian government fully supports the adoption of the BBNJ agreement that has been officially adopted by consensus by 193 UN member states at the UN headquarters in New York, the US, on Monday (June 19).

The BBNJ Agreement is a new agreement under UNCLOS to regulate the protection and utilization of genetic resources in the international sea.

Permanent Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia to the UN in New York Ambassador Armanatha C. Nasir emphasized the strategic role of Indonesia and other developing countries in implementing contents of the BBNJ agreement.

In a national statement delivered at the BBNJ agreement adoption session, Ambassador Nasir emphasized that the BBNJ agreement enhances the strategic role of developing countries.

"Capacity building, as an important element in the implementation of the BBNJ agreement, should be able to encourage developing countries to be more actively involved in the conservation and utilization of genetic resources in the sea, especially outside national jurisdiction," he said.

"Indonesia is committed to participating in collaborating to increase our understanding regarding biological resources in the high seas and is ready to collaborate in increasing capacity for the common good," he stated while representing Indonesia at the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the BBNJ.

The Indonesian National Team comprises negotiators from the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, Environment and Forestry Ministry, Permanent Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia in New York and several experts from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), as well as the Hydrographic Center and Oceanography of the Indonesian Navy.

They have fought for the interests of Indonesia and developing countries in the sustainable use of genetic resources in the international seas.

The Indonesia National Team is also actively pushing for biotechnology to become an integral aspect of technology transfer to developing countries.

In addition to fighting for equal opportunities for developing countries, Indonesia has succeeded in ensuring that the largest genetic resource in the sea, namely fish used in biotechnology activities, is not excluded from the benefit-sharing regime for all countries, especially developing nations.

Indonesia also persistently ensures that its position, as an archipelagic country directly adjacent to the high seas, is not excluded from the consultation process for the implementation of activities in the high seas.

Indonesia strongly opposes the implementation of activities in the high seas that are irresponsible and not consultative with countries around the location where activities are conducted in the high seas.

Indonesia's leadership in the context of the role of island and archipelagic countries is also carried out by ensuring affirmative policies for the representation of island and archipelago country experts in institutional schemes and capacity building of the BBNJ agreement, including the scientific and technical body (STB).

Coordinating Deputy for Maritime Sovereignty and Energy of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment Jodi Mahardi, as leader of the Indonesian delegation at the 5th Resumed Session IGC-BBNJ, expressed optimism that the momentum of adopting the BBNJ agreement will become a stepping stone in strengthening Indonesia's maritime diplomacy and accelerating development of the biotechnology industry in Indonesia.

Mahardi also requested that the solidity and persistence of the Indonesian National Team in negotiations continue through a measurable action plan for implementation.

“Our homework is increasing. I hope this (BBNJ national team) solidity is maintained. In three months, we must be able to compile measurable implementation of regulations, research, involvement of the business sector, and diplomacy," Mahardi affirmed. (Antaranews)